Vibration arrester for tube frames



Dec. 28, 1937.

w. w. ROBERTSON VIBRATION ARRESTER FOR TUBE FRAM Filed Jan. 2, 1957 Inventor wflham W. Robertson Attom Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES VIBRATION ARRESTER FOR TUBE FRAMES William W. Robertson, Northboro, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 2,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Axminster looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide means for arresting vibration of the tube frames as thelatter approach cloth forming position.

' Axminster looms operate with a series of tube frames movable one at a time to transfer position by a carrierchain. Clutch arms release a tube frame in transfer position from the chain and move it toward the cloth and after the tuft is formed return the tube frame to the chain. The releasing of the frame from the chain is likely to cause vibrations which are particularly noticeable when the tube frame is long.

During the pulling-off operation the tube frame is likely to sag under gravity and this tendency is usually corrected by an intermediate brace which'is brought into action when the tube frame is adjacent the cloth. On certain Axminster looms modified to weave fabrics having pattern on the back there are employed a series of guide aisle plates which tend to bow the tube frame rearwardly and in order to correct this defect the intermediate brace can also'be operated to keep the tube frame straight. In either case the tube frame is provided with a horizontal ledge under which the brace is positioned for the purpose of preventing either sagging or bending. Should the tube frame vibrate considerably there is the likelihood that the angle iron on the tube frame may pass under the intermediate brace and render the latter'ineffective. It is an important object of my present invention toprovide means to prevent the tube frame fromvibrating and thus insure a correct relationbetween the intermedi- 4 ate brace and :the angle iron on the tube frame. It is a further object of my present invention to mount the vibration arresting means on the intermediate braceand relate the means to the brace and tube frame in such a way that vibration of the tube frame will be arrested before the angle iron reaches the brace as the tube frame descends. 7

It is customary in wide Axminster looms to employ a so-called carrier for the tube frame which includes a pair of bent sheet metal sections extending across the loom and carried by the transferrer arm for the purpose ,of supporting the tube frame throughout its length. This carrier bar is found to be subject to vibration and since its horizontal dimensions are less than those measure in the vertical direction the brace engaging element thereof, which may be a small section of angle iron, is likely to pass under the brace as is the case with the tube frames. My

1937, Serial No. 118,801

present invention is adapted for use either with the tube frame alone or with the carrier bar in conjunction with the tube frame. As set forth hereinafter a relatively weak leaf spring is secured to the brace and has a portion lying above that part of the brace which engages either the tubeframe or the carrier bar. When the brace moves away from the tube frame at the conclusion of the tuft forming operation of the latter the spring or the like, being mounted on the brace, also moves away from the tube frame to be out of the path of the latter as it is returned to the transporting chain.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through the loom looking toward one end thereof and showing the brace with its operating mechanism and havingthe preferred form of my invention applied thereto, the carrier bar for the tube frame being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but showing the invention in a modified form adapted for direct engagement with the tube frame, the carrier bar being omitted,

Fig. 3 is a detailed vertical section on line 33, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is .a diagrammatic view showing movements of certain parts of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the loom frame supports a bottom shaft H which in the case of the three-shot Axminster will make one complete revolution for each three beats of the loom. The shaft has secured thereto a spider I! to which is adjustably secured a cam plate I3 capable of assuming a plurality of angular positions with respect to the spider around the shaft I I. A lever 14 movable about a fixed'pivot l5 engages the cam to rock thelever for a purpose to be described.

Extending upwardly from the lever is a rod l6 connected as at ll to a lever I8 movable about a fixed pivot I 9. V A lifter pin on the front or right end of lever l8 lies under an arm 21 movable about the axis 19 attached by means of a link 22 to a lifter link 23. The rear end of the latter is pivoted at 24 to the depending arm 25 of lever 26 also pivoted about the axis I 9. A

rod 2'! is interposed between the levers l8 and 26 and is surrounded by a compression spring 28 which acts as suggested in Fig. l to move the upper part of lever 26 toward the rear part of lever l8. A brace 31) is secured to the lifter link 23 and may be shaped as indicated in Fig. 1, terminating in a toe 3! which projects forwardly.

A transverse shaft 35 has transfer arms 36 secured as shown in Fig. 1 and these arms extend forwardly to have supporting relation with a carrier bar 3'! which extends across the loom. This bar includes two sheet metal sections 38 through the rear of which there is an opening 39 to give access to a short angle iron 46 secured to one of the carrier bar sections. This angle iron has a horizontal leaf 45 which is adapted to rest on the toe 3!. A tube frame T has a bar 46 which rests on the carrier and a strap 41' secured to the bar 46 extends around and behind a tonguev 48 of the carrier bar to hold the tube frame to said carrier. Each tube frame carries a yarn spool S and has a set of tuft yarn tubes 49. The tube frames are carried by a pair of transporting chains 50 movable about a shaft 5| and positioned by sprockets 52 one of which is shown in Fig. 1.

The matter thus far described is of known construction and operates in the usual manner, the transfer arms moving the tube frame in transfer position from the transporting chains down along a path concentric with shaft 35 toward the cloth board 13, and as the tube frame descends cam plate 13 and lever l4 cooperate to move the toe 3i forwardly into position for engagement with the leaf 45. For further reference as to the details of construction and mode of operation in the matter thus far described reference may be had to my prior Patents Nos. 1,603,411 and 1,604,318.

If, as the tube frame descends and the brace moves forwardly, the former should vibrate forwardly at the time the toe 3| and leaf 45 reach the position where they ordinarily would engage, there is a likelihood that on the forward swing of the intermediate part of the tube frame the leaf 45 will move under the toe 3|. This condition will prevent proper operation of the brace and it is an important part of my invention to prevent suchan incorrect relationship.

In carrying the preferred form of my invention intoeffect I secure to the brace 30 a leaf spring 60 which, as shown in Fig. 2, has two depending arms 6| lying on opposite sides of the brace 30. These arms are bowed forwardly and have a curved part 62 which extends into the path of the carrier bar so as to engage the latter before the leaf 45 moves down to the level of toe 3|. The spring arms are only strong enough to arrest vibration of the tube frame, serving to impose a slight yielding forwardly exerted force on the back of the carrier to prevent vibration of the tube frame before the leaf 45 reaches the toe 3|.

In acting to prevent or arrest vibration at this critical part of the downward travel of the tube frame in its carrier the leaf 45 moves down over the toe-3| so that these two parts will be required to have proper engaging relationship with each other. The forward pressure exerted by the arm BI is slight and is not sufficient to interfere with the correct position of the carrier bar and tube frame. t

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the brace is substantially the same as the brace of the preferred form, having the toe H thereofmodified slightly for engagement with an angle bottom 12 secured directly to the rear wall of the tube frame 13. The resilient means comprises a spring 15 of leaf form similar to spring 50 and as shown in Fig. 4 having arms 16 which lie on opposite sides of the toe H. The spring 15 in the modified form acts in the same way as does the spring 5% of the preferred form and engages a rear part of the tube frame before the angle iron 12 reaches the level of the toe H as the tube frame moves toward cloth forming position.

It is believed the operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. In both forms of the invention the tube frame or its carrier bar move so that the transporting chains move down to transporting position along a path into which a light spring projects to engage and arrest vibration of the tube frame before the angle iron either of the tube frame or the carrier reaches the level of the toe of the intermediate brace. The brace is moved toward the path traversed by the tube frame when being moved by the transfer arms, and carry the springs 68 and 15 toward and from said path. The leaf springs are so formed as to offer no appreciable interference to the upward movement of the tube frame as the latter moves toward the transporting chain and the springs may if desired remain in contact with the tube frames or carrier bar during the time that the tube frame is in its lowest or cloth forming position. While I have shown the springs as having two arms, one on each side of the intermediate brace, yet this is not essential, since the spring at one side of the arm can be made to serve the desired purpose.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means for preventing vibration of the tube frame as it moves when in the lower part of its motion away from and back to the transporting chains. The means employed may comprise a light spring mounted directly on the intermediate brace and having a part projecting into 'the path of the descending tube frame or carrier bar to prevent vibration of the tube frame before the angle irons reach the level of the toes on the braces. By having the spring secured to the intermediate brace assurance is given that the relative vertical position of the tube frame or carrier engaging part of the spring remains the same with respect to the brace toe, even though thebrace is movable first forwardly and then baokwardly to support the tube frame and prevent the latter either from sagging under gravity or bending rearwardly. By the use of my invention assurance is given that the angle iron and brace toe will alwaysretain their correct relation and this relation will not be disturbed by vibration.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In an Axminster loom, a tube frame movable'toward cloth forming position along a given path, a brace movable into supporting relationship with'respect to the tube frame as the latter moves toward cloth forming position, and means carried by the brace and extending into said given path to engage and prevent vibration of the tube frame prior to engagement of the brace with respect to the tube frame.

position, an intermediate brace, means to move' the brace toward the tube frame and into supporting relation with respect thereto, and resilient means carried by and movable with the brace and projecting into said given path to prevent V relation with respect to the tube frame.

4. In an Axminster loom, a set of tuft yarn tubes movable toward and from cloth forming position, a supporting element for said set of tubes moving therewith, an intermediate brace to engage the supporting element to prevent bending thereof, and means carried by the brace to arrest vibration of the supporting element prior to contact between the latter and the brace.

5. In an Axminster loom, a set of tuft yarn tubes movable toward and from cloth forming position, a supporting element for and moving with the yarn tubes, an intermediate brace to engage the supporting element to prevent bending thereof, means to move the brace toward and from the supporting element, and means moving with the brace and movable by the first means and effective to arrest vibration of the supporting element prior to contact between the latter and the brace. V

6. In an Axminster loom, a set of tuft yarn tubes movable toward and from cloth forming position, a supporting element for the yarn tubes moving with the latter along a given path, a brace having a toe for engagement with the supporting element, means to move the supporting element down to the level of the toe, and means carried by the brace to prevent vibration of the supporting element before the latter reaches the levelof said toe.

7. In an Axminster loom, a set of tuft yarn tubes, a support for said yarn tubes movable along a given path toward and from cloth forming position, a brace for the support, means to move the brace toward the support and into supporting relation with respect to said support, a toe on the brace, a member on the support movable toward the toe when the support moves toward cloth forming position, and resilient means carried by the brace and located above said toe to prevent vibration of the support before the member engages the toe as the support moves toward cloth forming position, said resilient means extending into said given path.

8.'In an Axminster loom, tuft yarn tubes, a supporting element for the yarn tubes fixed with respect to the latter when said yarn tubes are adjacent cloth forming position, an intermediate brace to engage the supporting element to prevent bending thereof, and means positioned by the brace to arrest vibration of the support element prior to engagement thereof by the brace.

9. In an Axminster loom, tuft yarn tubes, a supporting element therefor movable along a given path toward cloth forming position, a brace having a toe for engagement with the supporting element, means to move the supporting element and yarn tubes down to the level of the toe, and means brought into action by movement of the supporting element toward cloth forming position and projecting into said path to prevent vibration of the supporting element and yarn tube before said supporting element reaches the level of said toe.

10. In an Axminster loom, a set of tuft yarn tubes, support means for the tubes to move the same toward and from cloth forming position, an intermediate brace to engage the support means to prevent bending thereof, and means moved by the brace into position to arrest vibration of the support means prior to engagement of the latter by the brace.

WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON. 

